“Posing Comes With The Job”

On another overcast morning, Jackie drove me to New Hall Hospital for a physiotherapy appointment with Vanessa. Despite my lack of exercise for the last month, the verdict was still encouraging. A little further work is to be done on the muscles surrounding the replacement knee, but I am apparently doing well.

On our return home, we drove through Hale where

somnolent ponies slumbered around the green, and

a pair of cheery thatchers applied their skills to crowning a cottage roof. They work for Chris Gaussen, and tell me that posing for photographs comes with the job.

My choice of Tesco’s delicious Indian delights for this evening’s dinner was chicken vindaloo; Jackie’s was butter chicken. Both came with pilau rice.

83 comments

  1. Derrick, our search roofs popular in your area? And do they insulate well? Leading a thatch roof looks like quite a chore. I still get a chuckle out of seeing the horses lying around wherever they want and not being fenced in. And I just realized I’ve violated Winston Churchill’s rule about ending a sentence with a preposition. I better stop while I’m ahead.

    1. Thanks a lot, Steve. Thatched roofs are very popular and must be maintained. They can last for hundreds of years, needing renewal after about 30 – the new is placed on top of the old, keeping the history of the house. If they are completely replaced it must be with thatch

  2. Those horses are too darn cute! I like that one sprawled out in the middle of the field haha. Making himself at home! I’m so glad to hear your knee is doing better.

      1. Now see, I wondered that immediately after I posted my comment and went in for a closer look. Even biggifying I couldn’t be absolutely sure but swayed towards a young chap. I hope he doesn’t read this post and take offence. Blame it on me being old and doddery 🙂

  3. This winter, I have seen reeds being cut for thatch in Norfolk on Dina’s blog and now this lovely photo of thatchers at work. It certainly is an art. I’m glad your knee improves, probably helped by all the curry!

  4. It is amazing how often you eat Indian food. It used to be my favorite but it’s much rarer that we eat it. By the way, have you had Burmese food? Not sure if Myanmaran is a word.

      1. We used to have a Burmese restaurant near us. The owner was SOOOOOO nice. And the food was amazing. It is a cross between Indian and Thai food. IMO, the best of both!!!

  5. Good morning Derrick!!! Nice post and good news!!!!

    The Thatcher

    I talked with him upon the bridge,

    A thin man bent and old,

    “I crowned the roofs with gold,” he said’

    “I crowned the roofs with gold.”

    The glen had held him all his life

    And it would hold him ever,

    This weather-worn philosopher

    Who watched with me the river.

    The water, darkening at the bridge,

    Flowed at its sleepy will,

    And half-way up the mountain side

    The oats were golden still.

    He turned and watched the whole long glen

    And I went with him watching.

    Our eyes could strip the slates away

    And I could see him thatching.

    He’d lie up there the summer’s day,

    His wise hands working over

    The homely bundled oaten straw

    That made the golden cover.

    His small fork tucked the handfuls in,

    Like little oat sheaves sleeping.

    He’d guard them sweetly, safely, with

    The sallies he’d been steeping.

    And winds might blow and rain might fall,

    His roof was warm and tight,

    A benediction in the day,

    A blessing in the night.

    “The slates,” he said, “are useful things

    But doleful to the view,

    The glen without the thatch is not

    The glen my boyhood knew.

    I’d like to see the sunlight slant

    Again on golden gables,

    For the slates are cold as tombstones

    But the straw was warm as cradles.

    They paid for something more than all

    The hours of work I sold –

    For glory’s light in grudging fields.

    I crowned the roofs with gold.”

    Peter Brugge

  6. So glad you are healing/recovering nicely knee-wise, Derrick! 🙂
    Love the Smiley Thatchers! 🙂 They do beautiful work!
    I hope those ponies are having sweet dreams! Nap time is not the time to horse around! 😉 😛
    HUGS!!! 🙂

  7. Great to hear your knee and appetite are recovering well. 🙂

    “… Two Thatcher’s Thatching and a Po-ny passed out in a pas-ture!!!”

    Is it Christmas yet?? 😉

  8. I’m pleased to hear you’re knee is doing well. Lovely somnolent ponies. 🙂
    Those thatchers are very cheerful–and I agree, photogenic, too.

  9. Great job with the photo of the thatchers!! I would love to see them at work, since I’ve only seen the finished product. Maybe Tara and I will get a chance during our trip to Ireland coming up soon.

  10. Good news about your knee – I trust it will only progress faster now that spring is here and things are calming down. I LOVED that photo of the thatchers. What awesome guys they must be to pose like that.

  11. I’m glad to know you are healing well. That roof thatching looks fascinating! I didn’t know people still did that! Good for them!

  12. Keep up the good work on the physio Derrick and hope you head for a complete recovery, great colourful pictures, he horses look in excellent shape and contented, stark contrast to our cattle here in Australia, definitely no drought over your way.
    Cheers.

Leave a Reply